Circuit control system



June 21, 1932. P GRAY 1,863,627

C IRCUIT CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 26, 1929 INVENToR.

n ZZ-224% l ATTORNEY.

a circuit for effecting energiaation of saidv YPatented June 21, 1932UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRESLEY GRAY, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA,ASSIGNOB T0 I-T-E CIRCUIT BREAKEB COMPANY, 0F IPHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY cmc'U-rr CONTROL SYSTEMApplication med January 26, 1929. Serial No. 335,248.

My invention relates to a control system, and more particularly to asystem for controlling operation or actuation of electric switches,especially automatic circuit breaku In accordance with my invention, amain switch, as an automatic circuit breaker responsive to abnormalcircuit conditions, is moved to normal position, as circuit-closing gposition, by an electro-motive device energized through contactsactuated or controlled by movable structure, which is independentlybiased, toward position for energizing said motive device, and which islocked, as by a j latch or equivalent, in position corresponding withde-energization of said motive device, upon substantial completion ofmovement of said main switch or breaker to normal position; and moreparticularly, said latch or o equivalent is biased, as byelectro-magnetic means, toward position for locking said structure,during the movement of said `main switch toward normal position, andsaid latch or equivalent continues to be so biased until 5 substantialcom letion of movement of the main switch or Ibreaker to normalposition;

more particularly, said latch or equivalent,

while biased as aforesaid, is prevented from attaining position to locksaid structure in its position aforesaid, and upon substantialcompletion of movement of said main switch or breaker to normalposition, said structure v is moved to position corresponding withdeencrgization of said motive device and said latch or equivalent thenmoves to position to lock said structure in its said last-namedposition; and more particularly, the means for biasing said latch orequalent is controlled by a control switch, and, more particularly, saidcontrol switch must return to neutral position, to remove the bias onsaid latch or equivalent, before said motive device may again beenergized.

Further and more particularly in accordance with my invention, theaforesaid movable structure comprises a movable. contact normallybiased, by means independent of the main switch or breaker to closedposition for completing, together with the. control switch,

motive device; and means actuated substantially upon completion ofcircuit closing movement of the main switch, is adapted to move saidcontact to de-energizing position,

`whereupon the lock-out member or latch,

ig. 3 isan illustration of the relay structure of Fig. 1, with parts inanother position. Fig. 4 is a generally similar viewl of the same relaystructure, with parts in another position.

=Fig. 5 is an electrical diagram illustrative of mode and connection inthe use of structure such as that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of latch structure and an electro-magnetic triptherefor.

Referring to Fig. 1, to the base 1 of slate or other insulating materialthere are secured main terminal blocks 2 and 3 which are adapted to bebridged by the movable contact member 4, here representing a laminatedbridging member supported by and mounted upon the arm 5 which is pivotedto the housing or bracket 6 secured upon base 1. Contacts 2, 3 and 4,comprising a main switch,

are adapted to control a circuit (not shown) preferably a load circuitas yfor motor and lighting supply. l Secured upon and in electricalcontact with the terminal block 2 are the intermediate stationarymetallic shunt contact 7 and the stationary shunt carbon contact 8,-pivoted at 9 to` the bracket 10. Cooperating with the shunt contact 7 isthe movable shunt contact 11, and with the carbon shunt contact 8cooperates the movable carbonshunt contact 12, the contacts 11 and12being supported by the arm 5.

Pivoted, as at 13, to the bracket 6 is a switch-actuating 'lever 14having arms disposed on either side of the pivot point and to one end ofwhich there is pivoted, as at 15, a link 16 whose other end is pivotedon the switch arm 5. To the other end of the lever, as at 17, there ispivoted a downwardly extending operating rod 18 suitably pivoted at itslower extremity to an arm 19 pivoted at 19a which is operated throughpivoted link 195 by the core C (Fig. 2) vof a solenoid or closing coil20 disposed within the casing 21 which is preferably of magneticmaterial.

Pivoted to the ear 22, on the housing 6, at

23 is the latch 24 adapted to enga e the roller 25 carried in theextension 26 o the switch actuating lever 14 to lock the parts incircuitclosed position. In Fig. 1 the parts are in the position whichthey assume when in the fully closed circuit position. The upper end ofa connecting rod or link 27 is pivoted, preferably with lost motion in aslot, as at 28, to the latch 24 and the lower-end thereof is pivoted toa projection 28a extending upwardly from the upper surface of and nearone end of a pivoted armature member 29 biased upwardly against a stopmember 295 to the position shown by a. spring 29a (Fig. 2) or othersuitable means. Upon energization of a tripping coil 30 disposed withinthe upper end of the housing or casing 21, the armature 29 rotates aboutits pivot 31 to retract the latch member 24 from its restrainingengagement with roller 25, permittingr the switch arm 5 to rotate in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, under the infiuence of aspring or other suitable means, not shown, to the open-circuit positionand simultaneously therewith the switch-actuating arm 14 connectedthereto by the link 16 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction,effecting like movement of the arm 32 fastened to the arm 14 androtating therewith about the shaft 13. The free end-of the arm 32 isconnected through link 35 to the end of a movable switch member 33pivoted at 34 toa terminal member fastened in any desired manner to thebase 1. The latch 24 may also be actuated by pushing towards base 1, themanually-operable finger 24 which is connected to or engages the latch24 to eifeet rotation thereof in a clockwise direction. The latch 24 mayalso be, and preferably is, provided with a tail extension 24a, movementof which may be elected by changes in degree of energization of atripping coil T connected in series with the main terminals 2 and 3 asshown in Fig. 6 or in any other desired relation.

Mounted upon the lower front side of panel 1 is a relay R comprising abase 36 of suitable insulating material secured to panel 1 by theconducting studs 37 extending therethrough. A U-shaped bracket orsupport 38 of magnetic material is secured, as by the outwardly turningflanges 38a to base 36, and comprises a support, as well as a portion ofthe magnetic circuit, for a coil 39. A U-shaped arm 40 is pivotallymounted at 41 upon a pair of lugs (not shown) carried by the lower sideof bracket 38, and has secured to its free ends a cross-member 42 ofinsulating material. The front portion of arm 40 is provided with avertically extending member 43 which is rigidly secured thereto, andcarries at its upper end a contact arm 44 having a Contact element 45and insulated from member 43 by a block 46 of lsuitable insulatingmaterial, such as canvas impregnated with a phenol condensation product,for example. The upper end of member 43 is offset to form a iiange orlug 47 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Bracket 38 is provided with a stud 48, threaded at its outer end, andhaving mounted 'thereon a disc or pin 49 to serve as a seat for one endof a s ring 50 whose other end seats against member 43, tending to biasit and the arm 40 in a counter-clockwise direction.

A core 51 of magnetizable material is adapted to move longitudinallywithin coil 39 and comprises an upper conical portion 52 (Fig. 3) fromwhich extends a rod 53 screwthreaded at its upper end to receive a nut54. A guide member 55 secured to the upper portion of bracket 38, as byscrew-threaded engagement at 55a, extends within coil 39 and comprises arecess 56 corresponding in shape with the conical core portion 52 sothat the same is adapted to seat within the said recess. Recess 56communicates with longitudinally extending bore 57 through which rod 53extends. Portion 52 comprises a shoulder 52a' adjacent the face of rod53 upon which a spring 58 is adapted to seat,

the other end of which bears against a latch member 59 pivotally mountedas at 60 upon a lug 61 secured to the upper side of bracket 38 Latch 59comprises a lug 62 formed upon the upper side of the latch and having ashoulder 62a adapted to abuttingly engage the end of member 47. In theposition illustrated in Fig. 3, coil 39 is de-energized, permitting core51 to rest in its lowerinost position. Core 51 is freely slidable withincoil 39 and is suspended by rod 53 which in turn is supported by latch59. Accordingly, when coil 39 is de-energized, the weight of core 5ltends to drag the latch 59 downwardly, or in a clockwise direction,until its outer end rests upon bracket 38. In this position, lug 62 ofthe latch is disposed beneath the extremity of extension 47, and so isnot in abutting relation therewith.

Upon energization of coil 39, core 51 is urged upwardly, effectingcompression of spring 58 due to the fact that latch 59 remainssubstantially stationary, being held in such position by the overlyingextension 47 of the contact supporting member 43. Rod 53, however, isadapted to move freely through an opening in latch 59, thereby raisingnut 54 out of engagement with the up er surface of the latch. If now,coil 39 still eing energized, tlie'contact arm 43 is moved through asmall angle in a clockwise direction, the extension 47 will be moved outof engagement with the upper surface of lug 62, permitting thecompression spring 58 to bias the latch 59 in a counter-clockwisedirection so that the end of extension 47 is in substantially abuttingrelation with shoulder 62a of lug 62. In this position, contact 45 isout of engagement with contact 45a, the latter being secured toconducting lug 63 and in turn supted by conducting arm 64, secured byone the bolts 37 upon base 36. It is evident, therefore, that with theparts in this position the contacts 45a and 45 are ,locked or restrainedin opendposition as long as coil 39 remains energize The relay structureabove described is suitably enclosed by housing 65 within which base 36extends, and is ri idly mounted with respect to panel 1 by the securingknob 66 extending through an opening in the front side of the housing,and having an interiorly threaded bore within a reduced portion 66a toreceive the threaded end of stud 48. Housing 65 may therefore be readilyremoved from the apparatus by rotating knob 66 out of en agement withstud 48.

ivotally mounted upon the lower portion of casing 21 as at 19a, is anarm 71 having a depending portion 72 adapted to be engaged by a pin orlugl 73 carried by the solenoidactuated arm 19. The lower edge of arm 71is adapted to engage a stop member 74 secured to the casing 21 forlimiting counterclockwise movement of said arm. The outer extremity ofarm 71 comprises a pair of ofiset flanges 75 forming barred poi-tionsfor a rod or pin 76 which extends therethrough. Pin 76 is urged upwardlyby a spring 77 having one end thereof seating upon the lower flange 75,and the other end thereof bearing against a pin or lug carried by member76. The upper end of pin 76 terminates in a shoulder or collar 78adapted to engage the under side of cross member 42 for a purposehereinafter described.

open position and trip coil 30 is consequently lay R1. Coil 68 isenergized directly across line L through the remote switch S andcontacts 45 and 45a, which are normally biased to closed position.Energization of relay R1 causes contacts 69 and 70 to be bridged forcompleting the circuit through the main operating coil 20.

Core C is thereupon drawn upwardly, rotating arm 19 in a clockwisedirection to effeet closing of main switch 4 through interconnectingstructurc 18, etc. X

As arm 19 approaches completion of its clockwise movement, pin 73secured thereto engages the extension 72 of arm 71, tendin to rotate arm71 in a clockwise direction and to engage, through the medium of pin 76, the under side of cross member 42.

Spring 77 serves as a buffer or shock absorber, so that thecomparatively rapid upward movement of pin 76 will not causedamagevthrough its percussive effect to member 40. As illustrated inFig. 1, arm 40 has been rotated in a clockwise direction by arm 71 toeffect opening of contacts 45 and 45a. The relative position of the saidcontacts and core 55 when the main switch 4 has just completed itsclosing movement isbest illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the coil 39 isstill energized and urges core 51 against the top stop or guide member55. The compression spring 58 accordingly biases latch 59 upwardlyagainstthe underside of extension 47 so that lug 62 abuts the end ofsaid extension to prevent closure of contacts 45 and 45a. Disengagementof contacts 45 and 45a by the tripping arm 71 effects de-energization ofrelay R1, and accordingly de-energization of the main operating coil 20.It is evident, however, that as long as switch S remains in engagementwith contact a, the coil 39 of relay R will remain energized to biaslatch 59 upwardly to lock out the contact carrying arm 43.

Assuming now that the main switch 4 trips open due to some abnormalcondition in the circuit associated therewith, arm 19 will have rotatedto a position shown in Fig. 2 whereby pin 73 is no longer adjacent theextension of arm 71. Arm 71 accordingly is biased by gravity, or othersuitable mea-ns, in a counterclockwise direction to rest upon the stopmembei` 74. In spite of the fact that the remote switch S is still inengagement with contact a, the main operating coil 20 remainsde-energized, thereby preventing the main switch 4 from rapidlyre-closing or pumping, and will remain so de-energized until the remoteswitch S has been moved out of engagement with Contact a to diz-energizecoil 39 and permit the core 5l to drop to the position illustrated inFig. 3, where the nut 54 carried by the stem or rod 53 engages the topof latch 59 to move shoulder 62a out of engagement with extension 47.The contact-supporting arm 43 is now biased by compression spring 50 toeffect engagement of contacts 45 and 45a. The circuit through coil 68 ofrelay Rl may now be completed by moving switch S from its neutralposition back into its initial circuit-closing position as by engagementwith contact a. Relay R1 is accordingly energized, as is the mainoperating coil 20, and the above described cycle of operation may berepeated.

It will be noted that closure of the main switch is at all times underthe control of theA remote operator who may eiiect a single closingoperation of the switch only by individual operation of the remoteswitch S. In other words, when the remote operator has moved switch Sinto engagement with contact a to eiect initial closure of the mainswitch, the main switch is precluded from reclosing after it has trippedout due to some abnormal condition in the circuit associated therewith,even though the remote switch S remains in its initial circuit closingposition. In order to accomplish reclosure of the main switch, it isnecessary that the remote operator perform an individual and separateremote switching operation, as by iirst moving the switch S to itsneutral position and thereafter back into engagement with contact a.

` It will further be noted that contacts 45 and 45a which are in serieswith the remote switch S for controlling energization of relay R arepositively locked out of engagement with each other by latch arm 59substantially upon completion of the circuit closing movement of themain switch and as long as the remote switch remains in its initialcircuitclosing position. In other words, contacts 45 and 45a arepositively locked out of engagement with each other as long as relay Rremains energized.

The lock-out system above described is generally of the character ofthat disclosed in the Patent No. 1,106,126 to Ytterberg, and constitutesan improvement thereover.

What I claim is:

1.. In a circuit-controlling system, a main switch, an electro-motivedevice for actuating the same to a given position, and means forcontrolling the energization of said electro-motive device comprising aswitch independently biased towards a position adapted to eiiiectenergization of said electro-motive device, a second control switch, andmeans controlled solely by said second control switch for restrainingsalu first control switch in another position.

2. In acircuitcontrolling system, a main switch, an electro-motivedevice for actuating control v the same to a given position, a controlswitch l independently biased towards a closed position, a secondcontrol switch o rable conjointly with said first control switch toeiIect energization of said electro-motive device, and means controlledby said second switch for restraining said first control switch in openposition.

3. In a circuit-controlling system, a main switch, an electro-motivedevice for actuating the same to a given position, a control switchindependently biased towards a given position, a second control switchoperable conjointly with said first control switch to effeetenergization of said electro-motive device, means actuated substantallyupon completion of movement of said main switch to said given positionthereof to eiect movement of said first-named control switch against itsbiasing means to another position, and means controlled by said secondswitch for restrafnin said first-named control switch in said ot erposition thereof.

4. In a circuit-controlling system, a main switch, an electro-motivedevice for actuatin the same to a given position, n. contro switchindependently biased towards a given position, a second control switchoperable conjointly with said first control switch to ei'ectenergization of said electro-motive device, and electro-magnetic meanscontrolled by said second s witch for lockin said firstnamed controlswitch out of sai given position thereof substantially upon completlonof movement of said main switch to said given position thereof.

5. In a circuit-closing switch, an electro-motive device for actuatingthe same to a given position, a control switch independently biasedtowards a closed position, a second control switch operable conjointlywith said first control switch to eiect energization of saidelectromotive device, means actuated substantialv ly upon completion ofmovement of said main switch to given position to effect movement ofsaid control switch against its biasing means to a. deenergizingposition, locking means operable to hold said first control switch inits de-energizing position, and electro-magnetic means controlled bysaid second control switch for actuating said locking means to hold saidfirst control switch in its de-energizing position.

6. In a circuit-controlling system, a main switch, electro-magneticmeans for actuating system, a main' the same to a given position, aswitch controlling energization of said electro-magnetic' means andindependently biased towards close doors circuit position, meansactuated substantially upon completion of movement of said main switchto said given position to actuate said control swotch to de-ener zingposition in opposition to the biasin in uence thereon, andelectro-magnetica y biased 'means for engagingand locking said controlerable conjointly with said first control"l switch when the latter is insaid given pos tion to permit energization of said electromagneticmeans, means actuated substantial- 1y upon completion of circuit-closingmovement of said main switch to actuate said first control switch tode-energizing position in oppositionto the biasing influence thereon,and electro-magnetically-biased means controlledsolely by said secondcontrol switch for engaging and locking said first control switch in itsde-energized position to preclude movement thereof to energizingposition.

I 8. In a circuit-controlling system, a main switch, electro-magneticmeans for actuating the same to circuit closing position, a switchcontrolling energization of said electromagnetic means and continuouslybiased towards closed circuit position, means actuated substantiallyupon completion of circuit-closing movement of said main switch toactuate said control switch to open circuit position in opposition tothe biasing influence thereon, electro-magnetically-biased means forengagin and locking said control switch in its e-ener ized position topreclude movement thereo to energizing positlon, tripping means for saidmain switch and a second control switch for controlling saidelectro-magnetically-biased means.

9. Circuit-controlling apparatus comprising a base, a main switchmounted thereon, operating means for moving said switch to a givenposition, a relay controlling said operating means and comprising a coiland contacts normally biased to energizing position, a latch actuated bysaid relay to lock said contacts in de-energizing position, and meansactuated substantially upon completion of movement of said maiii switchto said given position to actuate said relay contacts to latch-engagingposition.

10. Circuit-controlling apparatus comprising a base, a main switchmounted thereon, operating means for moving said switch to a givenposition, a relay controlling said operating means .comprising a c'oiland contacts normally biased to energizing position, a latch actuated bysaid coil to lock said contacts in de-energizing position, meansactuated substantially upon conipletion of movement of said main switchto said given position to actuate said relay contacts tolatchengagingposition, and tri ping means for permitting said main switc to move toanother position, said llatch precluding movement of the relay contactsto energizin positilon during continued energization o said coi i l1.Circuit-controlling apparatus comprising a base,a main switch mountedthereon, operating means for moving said switch to a given position, arelay controlling said operating means comprising a coil and contactsnormally biased to energizing position, a latcli acta-ated by said coilto lock said l'nta'ct-s in fle-energizing position, and meanspoinprising a disengageable mechanical connection between said operatingmeans and said relay actuated substantially upon completion ofcircuit-closing movement of said main switch to actuate said relaycontacts to latch-engaging position.

12. In circuit-control apparatus,a circuit breaker, a circuit forcontrolling closing action of said breaker and including switch meansbiased to closed position, means operable to effect opening action ofsaid switch means responsive to closing action of said breaker, a latchoperable to lock said switch means in open position, relay meansoperable when energized to eifect'movement of said latch into lockingposition and operable when deenergized to effect movement of said latchout of locking position, and connection means providing for energizationand deenergization of said relay means independently of said controlcircuit.

13. In circuit-control apparatus, a circuit breaker, a circuit forcontrolling closing action of said breaker and 'including switch meansbiased to closed position, means operable to effect opening action ofsaid switch means responsive to closing action of said breaker, a latchoperable to lock said switch means in open position, relay meansoperable when energized to effect movement of said latch into lockingpositioii and operable when deenergized to effect movement of said latchout of locking position, connection means providing for energization anddeenergization of said relay means independently of said controlcircuit, and a control switch common with respect to said controlcircuit and said connection means.

14. In a circuit-controlling system, a main switch, electro-motiveoperating meanstherefor, and a control relay comprising contactstructure for controlling energization of said means continuously biasedtoward closed circuit position, and locking mechanism biased duringenergization of said relay to position for holding said contactstructure in open circuit position, and means for causing said,

Contact structure to remain in closed circuit Vposition untilv closureof said main switch by said operating means and thereafter to be held inopen circuit position by said latching mechanism until (le-energizationof said relay.

15. In a circuit-con'trolling system, a main switch, electro-motivemeans for actuating the same to a given position, and means forcontrolling said electro-motive means comprisino` a control switchcontinuously biased towards closed-circuit position, electro-magneticmeans for locking said control switch in another position, and meansadapted to energize said electro-magnetic means irrespective of theposition of said control switch.

16. In a circuit-controlling system, a main switch, electro-motive meansfor actuating the same to a given position, and means for controllingsaid electro-motive means comprising a control switch independentlybiased towards closed circuit position, means actuated substantiallyupon completion of movement of said main switch to said given positionto move said control switch to another position, electro-magnetic meansfor enga ing said control switch and locking it in said last namedposition, and means for controlling said electro-magnetic meansindependently of said control switch.

17. In a circuit-.controlling system, a main switch, electro-motivemeans for actuating the same to a given position, and means forcontrolling said electro-motive means comprising a control switchindependently biased towards closed-circuit position, means actuatedsubstantially upon completion of movement of said main switch to saidgiven position to move said control switch to another position,electro-magnetic means for abutting said control switch to hold it insaid last named position, and means for controlling said electromagneticmeans independently of said control switch.

PRESLEY GRAY.

